Day 1: Chemical Reactions
STEP 1: First, watch the video below to learn about chemical reactions. As you watch, pay close attention to how the video explains what makes a change truly chemical and not just physical. Look for examples of gas formation, color change, temperature change, and the formation of new substances.
STEP 2: Now we’re going to explore a series of chemical reactions. For each one, you’ll observe what happens and record your notes on a separate sheet of paper.As you watch and follow along, write down:
- What did you observe?
- Which signs of a chemical reaction (from the video above) were present?
Each reaction will come with a video and instructions to guide you. Watch carefully, follow directions. Let’s get started!
Reaction #1: Fast Rusting of Steel Wool (click here for video demo)
- Step 1: Put on your goggles. Safety first!
- Step 2: Get a small piece of steel wool (about the size of a cotton ball).
- Step 3: Fluff it out gently so there’s more surface area.
- Step 4: Carefully rub a 9V battery on the steel wool. Touch both battery terminals to the steel at the same time.
Reaction #2: Alka-Seltzer and Water Rocket (click here for video demo).
- Step 1: Put on your goggles.
Step 2: Fill a clear plastic cup about 1/3 full of water and drop in half an Alka-Seltzer tablet. Watch the bubbling—this is a chemical reaction producing gas!
Step 3: Now get a film canister and fill it about 1/4 full with water.
Step 4: Drop in the other half of the Alka-Seltzer tablet, quickly snap the lid on tight, turn it lid-side down, and place it on the ground.
Step 5: Step back and watch—it will pop off like a mini rocket!
Reaction #3: Electrolysis of Water (click here for video demo)
- Step 1: Put on your goggles.
Step 2: Fill a plastic cup about 3/4 full with water and stir in a big pinch of baking soda to help conduct electricity.
Step 3: Carefully poke two metal thumbtacksthrough the bottom of a plastic cup so they are not touching but are close toegether (these will act like holders for your electrodes).
Step 4: Attach each thumbtack to a 9V battery terminal—one to the positive and one to the negative. Watch what happens!
Reaction #4: Fire Extinguisher (click here for video demo)
- Step 1: Put on your goggles and tie back long hair.
Step 2: Light a small candle placed safely in a sturdy holder or on a tray. Make sure it’s in a clear area and handled with adult supervision. - Step 3: In a clear plastic cup, mix a spoonful of baking soda with a splash of vinegar. Let it fizz—this is creating carbon dioxide gas (CO₂).
- Step 4: Wait for the fizzing to settle down. Don’t move the cup too much—CO₂ is heavier than air and will stay in the cup like an “invisible liquid.”
- Step 5: Slowly “pour” the gas from the first cup into another empty cup by gently tilting the first cup over it—without pouring any liquid. (You won’t see the gas, but it’s moving!)
- Step 6: Now slowly pour the contents of the second cup (again, just the invisible gas) over the lit candle—carefully, from a short distance above.
STEP 3: Now you’re going to make slime—but here’s the twist: it may not be a true chemical reaction. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it can act like both a liquid and a solid depending on how you touch it. It starts with glue, a liquid full of long, chain-like molecules called polymers. When you mix it with an activator like borax or contact lens solution, those chains tangle together and the substance thickens. This is called cross-linking. But are we making something new—or just changing how it behaves?
Watch the video below to learn more about the chemistry of slime, then decide for yourself: is this really a chemical change?
STEP 4: You’ve just learned about how slime works—now you get to make your own and decide: is this really a chemical change, or just a physical transformation?
- Pour 6 oz (¾ cup) of glue into a bowl. This is your slime base.
- Add ½ tablespoon of baking soda and mix well. This helps the slime thicken.
- Add food coloring or glow powder if you’d like, and stir to combine.
- Add 1½ tablespoons of contact lens solution and stir. Your slime will start to form!
- Knead the slime with your hands until it becomes stretchy and smooth.
- If it’s too sticky, add a few more drops of contact solution and keep kneading.
You’ve just made slime—but is it actually a chemical reaction?
Remember the video you watched and the four earlier reactions you observed that clearly showed signs of a chemical change: gas production, color change, heat, or new substances forming. Now, think about your own observations while making slime—what changed, and how?
Use the QR code below to answer the question: Is slime a chemical reaction or not? Support your answer with evidence from what you observed and from everything you’ve learned so far. Be prepared to justify your reasoning! Click here to see all posts
